Sanding machine



June 13, 1933. H, L, MYgRs 1,913,503

SANDING MACHINE Filed July 1'7, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet l H. L. MYERS SANDING MACHINE Jung 13, 1933.

Filed July 1'7, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invenlor wan.

Allorney jyzrzyljlfyens By n June 13, 1933.

L. MYERS SANDING MACHINE Filed JuIy 17, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Invenlor June 13, 1933. HLMYERS 1,913,503

' SANDING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Invenlor A'llomey SANDING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1930' '7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

I nvenlor A lloril ey Patented June 13, 1933 UNITED STATES ra'rau'r OFFICE HARRY L. inns-s, or TOLEDO, onro, ASSIGNOB To run summon: moon. sumacme mourns. confirm, or 'ronnno, 01110, a conroaa'rron or 01:10

ammo momma Application filed July 17, 1930. Serial No. 468,824.

This invention has reference to certain structural improvements and refinements embodied in the development of a machine for abrading and sandingwork susceptible of diversified usage in working, dressing, and finishing plane surfaces. 7

Visualized more specifically, the inventive conception comprehcnds a portable belt sanding machine such as may be unitarily referred to as a sanderplane, such as may be converted for sanding edges and butt ends 'of floorson the one hand, or adjusted for cabinet, trim, bench and repair shop sanding on the other hand.

One feature of novelt is predicated upon a manually steered an manipulated sanderplane propelled through the medium of an electric prime mover characterized by a frame structure having a multiplicity of individual selectively usable handles to afford conenient means for fulfilling the requirements of a combination machine of this class. a

In developing this machine, I have evolved and produced a unique co-ordination of mechanical details such as permits the machine to be'used to advantage for innumerable purposes in conditioning flat wood surfaces whether-new, marred, painted or otherwise, thus enabling the machine to deliver the utmost in quantity and quality of work resulting in smooth finish with a negligible amount of effort and minimum operating costs.

'Analyzed structural? and more specifically, I have develope a light-weight belt sander with exce tional speed and assured dependability in ividualized by a special frame construction to accommodate mterchangeable belt guiding units at the front of the same, whereby to permit standardization and interchanging of theseunits so as to permit-the same general construction to be efficiently employed for floor edging across the butt end, along the edges, or

,stair landings, to expedite and facilitate sanding of boats, table-tops, furniture, refinishing of school desks and other analogous tasks.

Many other structural features and accompanying advantages will become clearly evident from the followin detailed description and the companion rawings affording a pictorial illustration of, the complete machine and co-related parts.

. In the drawings: s

Fi re 1 is a side elevational view of the comp ete portable sanderplane constructed in accordance with the present inventive conception and illustrating the specific organization used for floor edge sanding purposes.

Fi ure 2 is a view exactly like Figure 1 showm the edging shoe unit removed and re lace by a special guide equipped unit a aplting the structure for bench and mill wor Figure 3 is a plan View of the structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a rear end elevation of the du plex carriage structure constituting an im-. portant factor of the invention.

Figure 5 is a view like Figure 4 with the wheel-equipped yoke removed to expose line 8-8 of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a horizontal sect1on on the line 99 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a belt backlng platen.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the resilient edging shoe.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of the interchangeable unit employed for bench work.

Figure 13 is a view of the unit shown in Figure 12 observing the same in a direction from left to right.

Figure 14 is a lon itudinal'sectional view on the line 14-44 of igure 12.

Figure 15 is a side or edge elevation of the same observing the structure in a direction from left torlght in Figure 13.

ing the adjustable truck to emphasize the importance of this detail.

Referring now to the drawings by reference numerals, it will be observed that 21 designates a support of aportable nature heremafter generally recited as a frame. This is characterized by a substantially flat plate 22 having a downturned end 23 constituting a curved apron or shield partly embracing a rubber-covered pulley 24. In-

cidentally, the pulley is broadly referred to at points in the description as an antifriction drive for an associated endless abra sive belt 25. j

The plate is fashioned along one longitudinal 'edge to accommodate the source of power here shown in the form of a vertical electric motor 26. On the frontal ortion of the plate is a steering handgrip 2 Extending somewhat in a plane with the top 7 of the plate at the curved apron end is an vice as a bench plane.

outstanding flange 28 equipped with stop screws 29 and lock nuts 30 which serve a purpose to be hereinafter described.

It is appropriate to mention here that the numeral 31 designates a depending handle located centrally of the motor and co-operable with the handle 27 for using the de- On this same side and above the handle is a boxing 32 containing a switch 32 and fashioned to accommodate a wall plug cord (not shown) for supplying current to the motor. The numeral 33 designates a supplemental handle having a bracket 34 detachably mounted on the boxing 32. This permits the handle to. be removed in places inconvenient of access. The handle 33 is used in conjunction with the handle 27 when employing the machine for floor edging purposes.

Examining Figures 6 and 9, it will be noted that the frame includes a hollow cast gear housing 35 depending from the rear .end portion of the plate and serving to accommodate the motor shaft 36, and the worm 37 and its companion worm 38. The gear is carried by a horizontal driven shaft 39 ljournalled in appropriate bearings as represented in Figure 9. The projecting end portions of this shaft 39 carries the aforesaid rubber-covered pulley 24.

Incidentally, this power transmission means? is commercially important but not claimed in'this particular application.

Formed integral with the depending portion of the casting, as shown in Fi ure 7, 1s

a central transverse suspension ange 40.

Suitably fastened to this is a separablebracket including an attaching plate 41, an outstanding cylindrical keeper stud 42 and a tubularmounting stem 43. The stem is is a spring 46 provided which is confined in the bore of the tubular stem 43 as shown in Fi re 7.

or the sake of distinction, the unit detailed in Figures 12 to 16 will be known as the bench unit. The one represented in Figure 17 will be known as the edger unit. The bench unit detailed in Figures 12 to 16 comprises a cast socket 47 which is slipped over the stem 43. As seen in Figure 7, there is an end plate 48 receiving the thrust of one end of the coil spring 46. The numeral 49 designates a web carrying alined eye or collar 50 which slips over the stub 42. The numeral 51 indicates a spring-pressed latch ofappropriate construction for selective reception in the keeper holes or sockets 44 and 45 respectively, L

Under normalcircumstances, however, the latch is disengaged and the spring 46 is constantly under tension. The side extension 52 is formed with a screwthreaded socket to accommodate the adjusting bolt 53 which is engageable with an arm 54 pivotally mount ed as at 55 between the furcations of the bifurcated bracket 56. It will be noticed that a coiled expansion spring 57 is interposed between the free ends of the arm 54 and the extension 52 to exert pressure against the arm. to bring about automatic adjustment of the guide member 58.

This member 58 is formed of sheet metal and is somewhat V-shaped in cross-sectional configuration, having curved terminal ends 59, a flattened crown portion 60, and depressed intermediate portions 61 in its rear- .wardly diverging walls. This is to provide a simple guide for the aforesaid endless abrasive belt and at the same time dissipate eat.

So as not to detract from the eficient dissipation of heat, I provide the guide with a central block 62 fastened on a rigid stub shaft 63 detachably bolted to the arm 54. This arm. and bolt and pivotal mounting construction is to permit lateral adjustment of the guide 58 to aid in properly alining the belt. a

The numeral 64 designates a belt guide. The bench unit is shown in complete operative position in Figurev 2, at which time the belt 25 is trained over the guide 58 as well as the pulley 24. At this time, as before indicated, the s ring 46 is under tension and maintains the complete unit expande to exert yieldable pressure against the adjacent end run of the belt. f

I call attention at this time to the numeral 65, which designates a backing plate to be hereinafter known as a yieldable platen. As detailed in Figure 10, this comprises a flat resilient metal plate having slits 66 formed therein, having the toe 67 upturned andthe heel 68 upturned at an angle to permit it to be. anchored on the casting of the frame as represented in Figures 1 and2. This presses yieldably lower flight of the belt and in the belt arrangement in Figure 2, it maintains. the for ward portion of the lower flight of the belt in tan ential relationship to the lower portion 0 the guide element 58.

vThefloor edger unit is substantially the same in construction in its major details. For example, as shown in Figure 17, it comprises a cast socket 69, a guide eye 70, a spring-pressed latch 71. The numeral 72 merely designates a bumper or roller, The belt guide is indicated at 73 and the extension at 74, this carrying the adjusting screw 75 for the associated arm 76. The arm 76 is pivotally mounted at '7 7 on the extension bracket 78. This arrangement is for adjustizng the miniature guide pulley or idler roller Attached to the casting below the pulley 79 is the resilient edging shoe 80. This embodies a plurality of independent bendable or flexible fingers 81 having short vertical terminals 82 allowing the frontal flight of the belt to recede at the approximate angle illustrated at Figure 1 when the device is used for edging purposes.

he numeral. 83 represents an extensible arm carrying a channel 84 having a rubber bumper strip 85 arranged therein to form a resilient buffer to regulate the distance of approach within the vicinity *of the mop board.

Attention is now invited to the duplex carriage construction constituting an important factor of the rear end portion of the structure. This is located on the rear of the frame rearwardly of the propulsion pulley 24. It-embodies two main parts, namely a wheel-equipped truck independently adjustable with respect to a rollerpin constituting a work engaging runner. The wheel truck comprises a suitably designed yoke 86 having its end portions constructed to accommodate the floor contacting wheel 87.5 l The arms 88 on the ends of the yoke are rockably mounted on the journal pin extensions 8901f the work engaging runner or roller 90. This allows the truck yoke to be against the inner surface of the position raised or lowered to' render the wheels ef- "respect tothe runner roller 90. The roller 90 is turnable on the axle 89 which is mounted fixedlyin bearings 91 (see Figure 5) carried by the carrier 92. The carrier includes a top flange 93 and a bottom flange 94.

There is a screw 95 on the flange 94 and an adjustable stop screw 96 on the top flange 93. As shown in Figure 8, these screws are engageable with the inwardly extending flanged portion 97 of the truck Incidently the numeral 98 designates a spring surroundlng the screw 95 and exerting an upward thrust on the truck, so that upon rcleasing the retaining screw 96, the spring will come into play to lift the truck automatically to an out-of-the-way ineflt'ective Thus, the spring lifts and holds the truck up. I

' The entire carrier 92 and the truck mounted thereon is adjustable as a unit as shown by the construction represented in Figured This includes slotted webs 97 and cap bolts 97' threaded into the apron. In Figure 8, it will be observed that the aforesaid bolts 29 constitute set screws for adjusting the tilt or position of the carrier. lit is to be mentioned in this connection that this arrangerncnt permits the truck wheels to be reguhere, the floor is represented by the numeral 99 while the numeral 100 indicates the supposedly rigid truck having floor engaging wheels 101. The numeral 102 designates an initial cut. With this arrangemenflafter the initial cut is made, it is obvious that the right hand wheel of the truck will drop into the low spot.- If the truck were rigid, as indicated in'Figure 19, it would throw the belt at an incline, thus producing a rag ged job.

The adjustablearrangement depicted in the diagram in Figure 20, however, overcomes this, since it permits the wheels of the truck to be regulated to insure running of the belt in a true horizontal plane for smooth surfacing operation. These diagrammatic views have been selected to emphasize the dominating importance of this particular phase of the novelty.

For sake of clarity, it is to be mentioned that 103 represents a buffer roller on the carrier 92. Likewise, the work-engaging roller 90 is "of a composite construction in some instances including a surrounding cyrangement shown in Fz'gwre 1).-Before attempting to surface the edges in a room, the interior of the fioor is generally completely roughed off with a drum sander (not shown). Otherwise, trouble will be experienced in matching the two sanded surfaces. Now, put the same grit sanding belt 25' on the machine as was used on the drum sander for roughing off the interior of the floor. Then tip the machine back so that it rests on the rear operating handle 31 and turn on the electric switch and gradually lower the machine until the sanding shoe comes into contact with the unfinished edges. Slowly move it back and forth over the unfinished edges until they are sanded the same as the interior of the room.

The buffer will have to be adjusted with respect to the small vertical toe portions of the edging shoe so as to regulate the distance of approach toward the mop board. The entire shoe unit is constantly under spring pressure and co-operates nicely with the rubber spring action of the buffer in case too much pressure is brought to bear against the mop board.

Bench sanding (see Figure 2) .As before intimated, the machine can be quickly and easily converted into a bench sander by removing the sanding shoe unit just described and substituting the bench sanding guide unit and raising the truck wheels at the rear of the machine so that the long roller underneath the rear of the machine will come into contact with the surface to be sanded. After the adjustments have been made and the sanding belt properly alined through the adjusting device described, the

machine is placed on the surface and the motor set into operation and the machine moves slowly back and forth over the surface at the same time it is moved to the right and the left with the left hand on the front steering handle. This motion gives a see-sawing action and tends to level off the surface, leaving it perfectly free from sanding belt marks.

Ukanging abrasive 6elt.-To change the abrasive belt, tip the machine u so that it rests on edger shoe or bench san ing pulley,

can be most conveniently replaced by laying belt tensioning the machine on its side so that the open side of the machine is up.

. Alinement .of sanding beZt.Frequently,

I new belts do not track perfectly over the sanding shoe due to the belts being stiff, but after running a few moments the belts usually limber up and find their natural running position.

The sanding belts are one-quarter of an inch wider than both edger and bench sanding shoe, therefore, when they are in proper almement they should pro ect about one eighth of an inch beyond each edge of the sanding shoes. If they do not run approximately in this position, aline them by slightly adjusting the running position of the belt tightening pulley which is controlled by the adjustin screw with the knurled head screw locate near the front of the machine on the left hand side. e

The amount of adjusting required to aline the belt isvery slight, and will depend a great deal on the judgment of the operator, but after two or three adjustments have been made, it will be comparatively simple to adjust the belts to the proper running position.

General construction-The major portion of this machine, which includes the frame, motor housing, handles, sanding shoe castings and units and truck wheel brackets is of aluminum alloy construction. This gives assurance that the highest quality and lightest weight material is used in rendering the sanderplane exceedingly practical from every angle, but especially from that of portability, such as is essential in a manually operated electric motor operated machine.

It will be observed, though no novelty is claimed for it, that the motor is especially designed for ventilation and fan cooling to add to the practicability of the complete construction. Then too, the top handle 33 is detachably mounted so that it can be quickly removed, thus reducing the machine height to a minimum for working in cramped spaces. It is of importance to note that a machine of this kind weighs about thirty pounds when it is complete and ready for operation, although it is light enough to rated .With ease, it'still has suflicient weig t to give proper proportions and balance for use either as a floor machine or a bench machine.

The gist of the combination equipment and the standardization and interchangeability of features is that the single ma chine fulfills the requirements of two ma- .chines. It eliminates hand planing and hand sanding whether sanding edges on the butt chine for they Wlll be appreciated and thought unnecessary however, to' delve parallelism with said stem an expansion further into these 5 ecific phases of the ma-.' coiled spring confined in the bore of said clearly understood by persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

- Generically comprehended, it will be observed that one feature of novelty of the organization is predicated upon a ortable sanding machine such as is adapte to rest on the floor or any other surface to be conditioned and treated. At the back of the so as to constantly maintain the belt under l plification of such points however is believed frame as well as at. the front, are transverse spaced parallel guide devices. The pulleys 24 constitute one guide device, and the belt guiding unit ,at the front constitutes the other, whether it be the sanding shoe, or the es ecially designed sheet metal late 58.

n the floor type, (Figure 1?, there is a stationary shoe which extends forwardly below and in advance of the idler pulley, wherein the bottom of the shoe adjacent the front end is substantially horizontal and the toe portion of comparativel small vertical height. The provision 0 an endless belt trained over these various elements, to-

gether with the flexible metal platen and backing plate co-operating with the inner ortion of the lower flight of the belt is a easible and practical arran ement.

Additional novelty is pre icated upon the ada-ptatio of a portable motor equipped frame having the sprin contained mounting stems on the forwar portion to accommodate the interchangeable units, the spring constituting tensioning means for bodily shifting the units forwardl into I ieldable engagement with the front ight of the belt elastic tension.

The provision of the" automatically operable spring-pressed latch on the casting of the interchangeable units together with the keeper holes to allow the unit to be snapped into an inner position to aid inv replacing or removing the belt is important. The outer keeper hole in the stem 43 (see Figure 7-) which holds the unit a ainst displacement unless manually release is an advantageens "detail.

Further novelty is founded on the duplex arrangement of work engaging roller and wheeled truck .at the rear of the structure permitting the selective adjustment of these individual parts so as to permit the machine to be used successfully foreither work on the floor or on the bench.

Many other structural as well as commercial features and advantages are comprehended in this application. Further exemto be unnecessary.

I claim: 1. In a ortable sanding machine of the class descrl ed, a frame, a tubular stem carried thereby, a stud associated in spaced .being formed with longitudinally spaced keeper holes, and a spring-pressed latch on said body portion automatically and selectively engageable with said holes for maintaining the unit in inner and outer positions respectively.

3. In a portable sanding machine of the class described, a frame, a wheeled truck at the-rear end of the frame, an adjacent belt drive pulley, a motor on the frame, an operating connection between the motor and the pulley, a tubular stem on the forward portion of the frame, a spring therein, a guide unit comprising a socketed bod slidable on said stem and co-operable with said spring, a resilient guide shoe constituting a part of said unit, and an adjustable buffer associated with said shoe.

4; In a portable sanding machine of the class described, a frame, a wheeled truck at the rear end of the frame, an adjacent work belt drive pulley, a motor on the frame, and an operating connection on the frame be" tween the motor pulley, a stem on the forward portion of the frame, a spring carried thereby,a guide unit comprising a socketed body slidable on said stem and co-operable with said spring,'a resilient guide shoe constituting a part of said unit, an adjustable bufier associated with said shoe, a'resilient platen plate on the frame, an endless belt trained over said pulley, shoe and plate, and forward and rear handles supported from the frame for aiding in steering and manipulating the machine.

' 5. In a portable sanding machine of the motor operatively connected with said pulley, a forwardly projecting longitudinally disposed tubular stem onthe frame in advance of said .p'ulley, a coil spring confined in thebore of said stem, a stud supported alongside of and'in spaced parallelism with said StBIIHfl belt body having a $00 et. telescopically receiving said spring and stem, having an eye slidin on said 'stud,.an idler pulley, an adjustab e bumper, and a flexible edging shoe.

6. Ina portable sanding machine of the de. unit comprising a.

class described a frame, a belt driving pulley mounted for rotation on the frame, a motor operatively connected with said pulley, a forwardly projecting longitudinally dis osed stem on the frame in advance of sai pulley, a coil spring mounted on said stem, a stud supported alongside of and in spaced parallelism with said stem, a belt guide unit comprising a body having a socket telescopically receiving said spring and stem, having an eye sliding on said stud, a horizontal idler, an adjustable bumper, and a flexible edging shoe, a belt trained over the pulley,vidler and shoe, and having its front flight receding rearwardly of the bumper, together with a secondary shoe in the nature of a flexible platen on-the frame between the shoe and pulley and engaging the lower flight of the belt,

7. In a ortable sanding machine of the class described, a frame, a belt driving pul ley mounted for rotation on the frame, a motor operatively connected with said pulley, a forwardly projectin longitudinall disposed tubular. stem on tie frame in a Vance of said pulley, a coil spring confined in the bore of said stem, a stud supported alongside of and in spaced parallelism with said stem, a belt guide unit comprising a body having a socket telescopically receiving said spring and stem, having an eye sliding on said stud, a horizontal adjustable idler, an adjustable bumper, and a flexible edging shoe, a belt trained over the pulley, idler and shoe, and having its front flight receding rearwardly of the bumper, together with a secondary shoe in the nature of a flexible platen on the frame between the shoe and pulley and engaging the lower flight of the belt, a front handle on the frame, a rear handle detachably mounted on the motor, an adjustable truck on the rear portion of the frame rearwardlyf of the driving pulley, and floor-engaging wheels carried by said truck. 8. As a new product of manufacture, an abrasive belt guide for interchangeable releasable connection with a portable sanderplane of the class described comprising a cast body having a stem and spring receiving socket, a spring pressed latch mounted on said body, a guide and retaining, eye carried by the body, a bracket on said body, an arm adjustable on said bracket,'ashaft projecting laterally from said arm, ablock astened to said shaft, and a belt guide cars ried by said block, said guide being of sub-, stantially' V-shaped form with the interme diate portions of its converging walls formed with lon itudinal depressions to aid in dissipation 0 heat. Y 9. In a portable sanding machineof the class described, a. frame, a) motor, belt guides, an endless belt trained over said guides, a carrier, means for mounting the carrier on an adjacent end. portion of the frame to permit vertical adjustment of the carrier, an outstanding flange on the frame above the carrier, set screws carriedby said flange co-operable w1th the carrier, said car- ,rier having bearings, a roller including journals mounted for rotation in said bearings,

said journals projecting. outwardly beyond class described, a frame, an endless belt,

means for operably mounting the, belt on said frame, operating means for said first named means, and a duplex carriage on the rear portion of said frame embodying a roller carrier and an independently adjustable wheeled truck having an attaching yoke, together with lifting spring means for said truck and adjusting and retaining screws on the carrier co-operable with companion portions of the truck yoke.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY \L. nraas. 

